The crew of Diminuendo and her guests were treated to a beautiful evening in Active Cove with a wonderful view up the Strait of Georgia. The San Juan Islands provide an endless array of magnificent vistas. Sunsets in the San Juans are not always like this, but it just makes us appreciate them all the more when Mother Nature does grace us with one so beautiful!

We often sail by Patos Island on the way from Sucia to Stewart Island to treat our guests to one of the breathtaking view of the Patos lighthouse with Mount Baker looming in the distance. This time we decided to drop the hook and spend the night at anchor in Active Cove. The cove is a bit small so we’re not always able to find room. There are 2 mooring buoys and just enough room for a couple of boats to anchor out. In choosing you spot, one must consider the currents which can be quite strong, especially on a spring tide such as we had on this occasion.

One advantage of offering only private charters is that it allows us to change our plans as opportunities present themselves. As Captain Ron likes to put it, “leaving navigation to chance, circumstance, and whims.” Were we to offer “by the cabin” cruises, we would have to stick to a set itinerary or try to reach a consensus among the different couples sharing the boat.

From our vantage point in the cove, we could see the Patos Lighthouse as well as the lighthouse on Saturna Island across the border in the Canadian Gulf Islands.

Genaro and Stacey were a real pleasure to have aboard. Genaro is an expert drone videographer, and we will soon have some aerial video of our adventure to share!

The Vernal Equinox approaches and with it the promise of warmer spring weather. What better way to shake off the winter blues than on a private sailing charter in the San Juan islands?

Some of the very best sailing conditions are enjoyed in the spring. Temperatures are mild and the winds are great. The islands are sprinkled with meadows and prairies of wild flowers and grasses. Come see them in all their splendor!

The San Juan Islands are seldom crowded, but they are even less so in the spring. Mornings can sometimes be a bit cool, but nothing a steaming pot of coffee and Diminuendo’s furnace can’t chase away!

To welcome the spring, Mari and Ron are inviting you to join them aboard Diminuendo for your own private spring sailing adventure, and offering special rates to help lure you off the couch. You’ll set sail from Bellingham, WA, just 90 minutes from bustling Seattle and about 60 minutes from Vancouver, BC. Within a few hours you’ll find yourself in a whole different world.

To find out how you can take advantage of our great pre-season specials, call or text Northwest Sailing Adventures at: (253)381-3919. You can also email us at: info@nwsailing.com. This offer is valid until May 20th for sailings before June 20th. For the best dates, call now!

One of the high points that visitors look forward to when visiting Washington’s San Juan Islands is the possibility of sighting Orca whales.

The San Juan archipelago is made up of two distinct sub-species of whales, their differences based primarily on behavior. The Resident orcas are fish eaters – consuming up to 400 pounds of fish per day (primarily salmon). The resident orcas are known as the Southern Resident Killer Whales (SWKW) and are comprised of three different pods (J, K, and L). Salmon migrations typically happen during the summer months, and it is during these times that the resident pods most actively gather in the San Juan’s to feed. In the winter months, they may follow the salmon far out to sea.

Transients, however, prefer to eat marine mammals. While the resident pods tend to stay in the San Juan area, the Transients travel from Alaska to mid-California cruise the coastal waters in search of their prey, which include harbor seals, sea lions, porpoises, dolphins and other whales. These two groups do not interbreed or socialize. In fact they tend to avoid each other.

Because of the popularity of whale watching as a tourist attraction, several companies offer fast-moving boats out of the San Juan Islands and Canada. As a result, conservationists have campaigned for the enactment of laws in regards to viewing them, including staying 200 yards or more from the whales, avoiding crossing the whales’ path and reduced speeds. “Be Whale Wise” the slogan says.

With a sailboat and a top speed of 8 knots, we are at the whim of the whales. If we see whale boat activity, we’ll try to head that way, but it all depends on the direction they are heading. We’ve been very fortunate this past season. An Orca encounter near Patos Island was one of many highlights on a recent chartered sailboat cruise by Northwest Sailing Adventures. We also encountered a pod in Haro Strait on the very next adventure cruise. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come!

We are privileged to share the waters with these magnificent creatures, and to let our charter boat guests see these amazing creatures in the wild. Contact us today to learn about charting our all-inclusive sailboat; imagine yourself sailing the waters from Bellingham Bay to the San Juan Islands. Your outdoor adventure awaits!

You spend your days helping mold our children into who they will be. You spend countless hours “off the clock” grading papers and planning classes. You owe yourself a great vacation! NW Sailing Adventures would like to show our appreciation for all your efforts by offering a SPECIAL 20% DISCOUNT off our usual low prices for 3, 4, 5, or 6-day all-inclusive sailing charters in the scenic San Juan Islands. Allow your crew to handle navigation and cater to your needs while you relax and enjoy the ever-changing panorama.

This offer is valid for any current or retired school employee and their families. Teachers, administrators, janitors, kitchen personnel, groundskeepers, and any we have forgotten to mention are welcome! To take advantage of this special offer, simply mention this post.

The crew of the good ship Diminuendo just returned from a wonderful 3-day spring sailing charter. Cathy was celebrating her ?0th birthday with her boyfriend Kevin. The weather was beautiful, with warm sunny skies in the day and a lovely spring shower to lull us to sleep when we were hunkered down in aptly named Snoring Bay on Sucia Island. We all had a great time.

As we sailed through the San Juan islands, they began to dream of having their own boat. It looks like cruising the waters of Northwest Washington may have claimed another victim!